FOOTBALL RUMOURS: United bid for Verratti, City build new defence, Liverpool chase Zielinski, Falcao return?

John Lomas

According to Italian paper Corriere dello Sport, Manchester United are planning to offer French champions Paris St-Germain £79m (€100m) for 23-year-old midfield star Marco Verratti. It is claimed that United target Zlatan Ibrahimovic wants PSG pal Verratti to join him at Old Trafford. (Daily Star)

Pep Guardiola wants to make Everton’s John Stones and Athletic Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte, both 22, his central defensive partnership at Manchester City next season in a combined deal that could cost as much as £85m. (Manchester Evening News).

Manchester United’s hopes of signing Toni Kroos could be hit by Real Madrid’s pursuit of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. United have earmarked Pogba and Kroos as two top targets as manager Jose Mourinho overhauls his squad at Old Trafford. However, Kroos could be the makeweight in a deal between Juventus and Real madrid for Pogba. (The Sun).

After flopping at Chelsea and Manchester United, Colombian hitman Radamel Falcao may try to make it third time lucky in the Premier League with promoted Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson looking to take advantage of his relationship with the star’s agent Jorge Mendes (The Sun)

Galatasaray are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia. Valencia, who has one year remaining on his contract at Old Trafford, endured an injury-hit season - making just 14 Premier League appearances due to a foot injury which ruled him out for four months. (Daily Express).